Bleeder for drill stems



\F. C. SMITH, JR 2,011,089

Filed May 14, 1934 FREDERICKC. smm JR. INVENTORE ATTORNEYS.

' which Patented Aug. 13, 1935 UNITED STATES 'ao rosa BLEEDER FOR mum. STEMS Frederick C. Smith, Jr., Houston,

Tex., assignor to Hughes Tool Company, Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application May 14, 1934, Serial No. 725,632

2 Claims.

My invention relates to means for bleeding the drilling fluid from the drill stem when the bit openings have become clogged.

It is a difliculty in some formations and with certain types of drills that the openings through the bit for the flushing fluid become clogged and with the drill ste n so as to weight down the gas pressure.

It is an object of my invention to provide means the stem is withdrawn with the bit passages clogged.

I desire to provide openings in the drill stem opened 'drill stem is withdrawn. In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side yiew partly in vertical section illustrating my invention applied to a drill stem. A F

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line A-A of Fig. 1. I

The drill bit I shown in Fig. 1 is an ordinary flshtail bit and is merely illustrative of a type of well drill with which the invention may be used, the device being designed for use with any form of drill. The drill is formed with an upper shank 2 forengagement with a drill collar 3.

The said drill collar is ofstrong tubular construction with a central passage 4 therethrough for the flushing fluid which is discharged upon the bottom of the hole through outlets 5 in the bit head. The upper end of the collar 3 is formed to engage with the lowest section of drill stem 6.

My invention is preferably mounted in the drill collar but may, of course, be mounted in any of the lower drillstem couplings or tool joints, not shown.

because the mud-in the drill stem out through the clogged openings.

My device includes a. small metal tube 1 which I mount diametrically of the drill collar so as to close two opposite openings 8, 8. This tube is made of some material which may be easily broken or sheared off by a. weighted object such 5 as a sinker bar or ball dropped down through the drill stem from the upper end. The tube 1 is flared at its ends to engage within a flared recess 9 at each outer side of the collar and thus hold the tube in position. This flaring of the 10 ends of.

into position.

In operation, the tube will not interfere with the flow of liquid through the drill stem and out the openings 5 in the drill. But should the said. openings 5 become clogged so as to necessitate the withdrawal of the drill, the tube 1 may be .broken or sheared oil" to free the openings 8 in 20 the drill collar, by dropping a heavy object such as ametal bar down the drill stem. When the tube is broken the liquid above can drain out the openings 8 as the drill stem is raised from the well in the usual manner. 25 The device provides means to avoid the loss of mud from the well hole when the drill stem is withdrawn. It -also avoids the slapping of the mud from the drill stem sections all over the platform and upon the operators. It is simple and maybe easily and economically installed.

What I claim as new is: 1. A hollow drill stem, a drill bit thereon having discharge openings therein for flushing fluid circulated downwardly through said stem, a drill 5 collar having diametrically arranged openings, a tube connecting said openings and normally closing the same, said tube being easily broken by a shock thereon from above to allow discharge of flushing fluid through said openings. 0

2. A hollow drill stem, a drill bit thereon hav- 4 ing discharge openings therethrough for flushing fluid circulated downwardly through a central passage in said drill stem, there being opposite lateral openings in said passage spaced above said drill bit, and a diametrical tube sealing therein and normally closing said openings but adapted. to be rendered ineifective to close the same in response -to a blow delivered thereon from above. 0

FREDERICK C. SMITH, JR. 

